Curable Composition for 3D Printed Artificial Teeth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing additive manufacturing techniques using material jetting methods face challenges in achieving high strength, whiteness, and safety due to the increased viscosity of curable compositions when adding inorganic fillers, particularly with the stricter safety regulations on titanium oxide, which affects the inkjet dischargeability and whiteness of the cured products.
Innovation Solution
A curable composition comprising a radical-polymerizable monomer and a hard solid component with a specific refractive index difference, which is free of titanium oxide, ensuring high safety, inkjet-dischargeability, and achieving high strength and whiteness after curing, by controlling the volume percentage and particle size of the hard solid component within specific ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If inorganic filler is added to improve strength and whiteness, then the cured product properties are improved, but the viscosity of the curable composition increases and inkjet dischargeability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the particle size of inorganic fillers to 10-1000 nm volume average diameter and optimizing the volume content to 3-40%. It also controls the refractive index difference between the filler and resin matrix to be 0.04 or greater. These parameter optimizations enable the composition to maintain low viscosity for inkjet dischargeability while achieving high strength and whiteness in cured products.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining organic resin components with inorganic filler particles of specifically controlled size and refractive index. This composite approach allows the system to exhibit both the processability of the resin and the mechanical strength and optical properties of the inorganic filler, resolving the contradiction between dischargeability and cured product performance.
2Illumination intensity
If titanium oxide is used for whiteness, then the whiteness of the cured product is improved, but safety risks increase due to stricter safety regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts titanium oxide from the composition entirely, replacing it with alternative inorganic fillers that provide equivalent or superior whiteness without the safety concerns. By removing the problematic substance while maintaining the desired optical effect, the patent resolves the contradiction between whiteness and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes titanium oxide with safer, more environmentally friendly inorganic fillers that achieve the same whiteness function without carcinogenicity concerns. This replacement strategy eliminates safety risks while preserving the aesthetic quality of the cured product.
3Strength
If inorganic filler content is increased to improve strength, then the strength of the cured product is improved, but the viscosity increases and manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the volume content of inorganic filler to a specific range of 3-40%, avoiding both insufficient reinforcement and excessive viscosity. This precise parameter control enables the composition to maintain proper flow characteristics for accurate inkjet printing while achieving the desired strength enhancement in the cured product.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by ensuring uniform distribution of inorganic filler particles throughout the resin matrix through controlled particle size (10-1000 nm). This uniform distribution prevents aggregation and maintains consistent rheological properties, ensuring both manufacturing precision and strength enhancement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a curable composition that is safe, inkjet-dischargeable, and achieves high strength and whiteness in the cured products, while maintaining suitable viscosity for effective inkjet printing, addressing the limitations of existing techniques.
Implementation Method 1
a radical-polymerizable monomer
Data Source
AI summary
A curable composition containing a radical-polymerizable monomer and a hard solid component having a volume average particle diameter of 10 nm or greater and 1,000 nm or less is provided. The content of the hard solid component is 3% by volume or greater and 40% by volume or less. The difference (n1−n2) between the refractive index (n1) of a cured product of any other component than the hard solid component and the refractive index (n2) of the hard solid component is 0.04 or greater.